( He sets to taking the clock apart and certainly, that'll prolong his stay unless he's planning on leaving it in pieces - an unlikely act of pettiness, when you consider the man's general demeanour right now. All the same, Sherlock watches him intently, noting the skilled, habitual approach to handling the gears, his focus. There's something very familiar about it - about reducing something down to its core elements, knowing exactly how to do so without causing any undue damage.

Something almost disturbingly familiar, yes. )

Please. Altruism is little but an academic concept.

( He tilts his head sideways a bit, intrigued despite himself. He's been the lamb before, in the eyes of criminals and psychopaths and he's not scared of the implications - after all, unless you're a common thug or properly insane (not this man, obviously), the chance to show your strengths, to be recognised and raised above the common sheep far surpasses the need to kill for sport.

He knows, of course, because he could have been a killer himself in a different life, as Sally Donovan so kindly reminds him at every possible (and seemingly impossible) moment. It's the shadow side of his profession and he won't pretend to be bothered by that, whatever it makes him in the eyes of others. In that respect, talking to this man is a lot easier for him than dealing with sanctimonious idiots who can't seem to understand that it isn't about morality, it isn't about boring concepts like right and wrong. )

I want to know the facts and the story pertaining to them. Nothing more and nothing less.